Visa fee exemptions extended till year-end

Foreign tourists buying package tours to Vietnam under the Impressive Vietnam promotion campaign will enjoy an exemption on visa fees until the end of the year instead of end-September, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). VNAT’s travel department said the Government Office on Monday announced the Prime Minister had agreed to a request of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the extension in line with the extended tourism promotion. Vietnam’s tourism agency early this year launched the Impressive Vietnam program offering discounts of 30%-50% for visitors buying package tours from travel agencies in the program. To help the country’s tourism attract more foreigners, the Government in May agreed to exempt visa fees for foreigners who enter Vietnam on these package tours. The travel department said more than 20 travel companies had registered for their guests to enjoy free visas. Despite efforts from the tourism sector, international tourists in Vietnam are still lower than last year. According to the General Statistics Office, nearly 2.8 million foreigners visited the country in Jan-Sept, down 6.6% year-on-year. In related news, the Prime Minister issued a regulation to map out and realize the national tourism promotion program for 2009-2010. Under the regulation, the Prime Minister assigns the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to collect, classify, approve and realize the national tourism promotion program every year. Each program should combine activities to promote tourism, trade, investment and culture. The regulation stipulates that programs to promote the country’s tourism via local…